Flexible hollow stay-bolt construction for boilers



Aug. 21, 1945.

J. KINDERVATER FLEXIBLE HOLLOW STAYBOLT CONSTRUCTIN FOR BOILERS F1133 .July 2o, 1944 CWM ATT NEY l Patented Aug. 21, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT [OFFICE FLEXIBLE 'HoLLoW STAY-BOLT coN- v STRUCTION FOR `BOILERS Julius ',Kndervater, Richmond, Va.,)lassignor to American A,Locomotive Company, New York. N. Y., a corporationof New York Application'JuzlyfZQ 1944, Serial No. 545,815 i iciaims. (ci. asf-1.45) n,

This invention relates to flexible hollow staybolt constructions for boilers, and more particu-` larly to a connection for exibly securing the staybolt to the outer boiler sheet. `The construe` tion is of the type having a capped ysleevewith an interior spherically-shaped seat` adaptedy to be secured to the outer boiler sheet,` andl a staybolt terminating at its outer end in aqspherically-` shaped head supported on the seat providing a flexible joint between the staybolt and sleeve.'

The object of theinvention is to provide afflex"v ible gasket snugly engaging vthev outer endof fthe spherically-shaped head and 'ajflexible `spring clamp holding the gasket in sealedl engagement with the head during all relative movements beand thereafter is closed up as shown, and according to usual practice.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 2 the inner end of the staybolt 6 is made differently but is also conventional. The inner'end of the body 5J is threaded and secured in the threaded orifice of the inner boiler sheet 3', providing a rigid joint between the staybolt 6 and the inner boiler sheet 3', instead of a flexible joint as in Fig.'l. The staybolt 6 is provided with a squared inner end 8 similar to the staybolt of Fig. 1, and when tween the head and sleeve while in service,` theV gasket and clamp, at their outer margins`,`being tightly secured between the sleeveand cap, there#V by providing a sealed joint betweenI the head and sleeve.

Other and further objects of this inventionwill appear from the following description, `the ac,` companying drawing and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing formingya part of this application, Figure 1 is al ioreshortenedcen, tral sectional view, partly in elevation, of an' em` bodiment of the present invention, portions ofy the boiler sheets being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a diierent type of stayblt construction showing a slightly modiiledfiorrn of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, plan of the clamp when not underl compressiong' and Fig. 4 is a section of the clamp on the linef Iv-Iv of Fig. 3. j ff' The inner end of the construction, whichis lil secured to the rebox or inner boiler sheet, yforms no part of the present invention, and anyA ape* propriate preferred or well-known type maybe employed. l Referring to Fig. 1, the staybolt construction is indicated generally by the referencenumeral l and is shown connected to the fragmentally shown outer boiler sheet 2 andinnerv boiler sheet 3. The construction, attrie inner' end, which is conventional, as aforesaid, providesa flexible connection at this end. It omprisesjf; 1

head 4 disposed at the `inner end of the body5 of the staybolt 6. I'he head is seated inthe `hol`` low of the member "1 which is threaded and secured in the threaded orifice ofthe inner boiler sheet 3 and is provided ywith a squared.v end 8 for a wrenchior drawing the staybolt 6 in place in' the usual manner. The wall of the hollow of the member 1, when rsi; formed, is flared sufficientlyoutward to permit the head `4 to be assembled, l

y a iilletweld l0.

the staybolts of each type are assembled lin the boiler sheets these squared ends are removed and the endv of the member 'l and staybolt 6', as the case may be is rivetted` over tightly against the respective inner boilerA sheets 3 and 3' in the usual manner. i The connection at the outer end ofthe construction of Fig. 2 for the outer boiler sheet 2 v is intended for a conventional sleeve of any appropriate type so that, if desired, the invention may be employed where the sleeve has previously beenfconnected to the boiler sheet and has been used with another type of construction and where itisdesired to change over to a construction of the present type. For illustrative purposes a conventional sleeve' 9 is chosen of the type having a conical lower exterior face engaging a conical orifice in the boiler sheet and welded thereto by A head is provided at the outer end of the staybolt body 5', as will later appear, and a characteristic o f the invention is that the heads of both staybolt 6 and staybolt 6 project outwardly Ibeyond the outer face of their respective sleeves. To` provide for this in the case of the conventional sleeve 9', a-flller piece -ring Il having an interior concave spherically-shaped seat I2' for the staybolt head is .fitted inthe sleeve, as clearly shown, and is of a suitable height to seat the head so that it will extend beyond the sleeve, as aforesaid. Thel staybolts are of the tell-tale type, the ybolt `i5( being provided with a longitudinal bore I3' extending throughout' the length of the staybolt v'and open at both ends so that it may be cleaned of rust or other foreign matter from either end, preferably the firebox end which may b e closed, as by av removable porous plug (not shown) in the usual manner, if desired. The bore, at the opposite or outer end, if desired, may

be enlarged and squared as shown at I4 for the application of a tool for screwing the staybolt to theA inner boiler sheet 3', in which lcase the squared end 8' may be eliminated. l l jIn other particulars the connections ofthe conof the sleeve 9 having its lower exterior portion, concally-shaped for mounting it, as shown, in a corresponding conically-shapedy orice in' the boiler sheet 2 to which it is securedby a fillet; weld III. The sleeve is provided with an interior concave spherically-shaped"seat I12'fo'r the stay# bolt head, later to be described', and at its outer end has a at seat I5 and inward thereof an externally threaded portion I3? n f' The staybolt 6 at the outer end of the body` 5 is provided with a head I1 and a longitudinal bore I3 for a similar purposeA as bore I3"v except that bore I3, while open through the'head I1, is closed at its opposite end (when theopposite end is' of the type shown)v so that it .can be cleaned only through the open end. at the hea-.dv I-1. l The head |15, at itsf inner. end portion, has a convex spherically-shapedface I 8 engagingi the seatfI2, and at its outerend portion av convex spherically-shaped .face I9' which extends out-r v'vardlyy beyond the seat I5. These convexv pier-A tions are preferably centerless-ground= to facilitate' free relative 'movements Without'. injury toV the engaging spherical faces under service condiu tions. Between the two portions the head ispreferably not shapedv spherically and'. is accord` ingly spaced from the sleeve. TheI sleeve Sig'inv ward of the seat I2, is spaced from the staybolt, and, likewise, the ring VII and sleeve 9" of Fig. 2, inward of the seat-.412', arespacedf from the'l bolt 6,..

The sleeve 9 is provided with a removable cap 2B having an interior pressure face 2I disposed'- -opposite to the seat I5', a hollow interior portion or dome 2 2 disposed outwardly beyondL the presvsureV face 2I, and an internallyv threaded por-- tion 2.3 disposed inwardly'of the pressure face 2I, the threads of portion 23 engaging the` threads of portion I6". The cap hasan orifice24 in line with' the bore orteil-tale hole I3 s ojthat the -v tell-tale bore I3 may be cleaned out through this orifice and so -that any fracture of the staybolt will be indicated by leakage of steam or water' passing through the fracture into the bore and' therefrom through the orifice 24. The bore I3' of Fig. 2 operates in a similar manner except that it may be cleaned from either end, as aforesaid, and the indication of a fracture maybe noted at either end.

-the spring clamp and a concave-convex portion 432, the orice in the disc being thereby enlarged to provide the orice 33, and the slits are thereby opened at the orifice providing V-shaped slits 34.

4.'I'he clamp ing-this'form is then tempered to a 1 proper'degree toV withstand the steam temperature of' the boiler.: A row of concavo-convex spring fingers 35, separated by the open slits 34, is thus Execpt for the modification. involving the ring II, the constructions thus far described are con.- ventional.

The invention comprises an annular gasket 25, which isA preferably made of copper, and a spring. clamp 42li which is made of steel tempered to withstand the heat of the boiler steam. The hollow portion or dome 22. hasa more or less bowl-shaped face. 21, and in this dome projects` the upper portion of the head I1v.havi`ng. the convex face I9. The upper portion of the head1 is separated from the face 21 by ar spaceI 28.

The gasket 25 hasaange 29 supported on'the seat I5 and the spring clamp 26 has` a flange 30 supported on the iiange 29 and engaged by the pressure face 2| when the cap is screwed home, the flanges being thereby tightly held in place. The

provided.

"The concaVo-convex portion 32, when the spring yclamp is assembled. extends from adjacent the inside periphery of the flange 29. ofy gas ket I25 toward theorice 24 of the cap 2I).`- When the cap 20 is but partly screwed `on the sleeve the convex faces of the fingers 35 adjacentl the orifice 33 engage` the face 21 near the' orice 2 4 of the cap, thereby crossingthe space28, the orifice 3 3 being in line with the orifice 24 and .bore I3. When the cap is screwed homethe flanges 29 and 30 are tightly securedin place as aforesaid, :and the fingers 35A are compressed to sufiioientlytension them toprovide an adequateclamping pres-4 sure upon the convex face of thegaskct by the concave faces of. the fingersadjacent.theretoto provide Aof the gasket a flexiblysealed; joint between the head I I and sleeve r9. That is tosay, the portions of thengers` 35y adjacent the flange 30 press the portion 3Iv of the gasket againstthe staybolt head. I1. v

When the cap is screwed tightly home the fin-f gers, except Where they engage theface 21, as aforesaid, are spaced from this face andare like; wise spaced from thehead beyond the gasket 25. It will be seen that thegasketand spring clamp of the construction, as thus described, permits the bolt to expand and-,tomove or tilt relativeto the sleeve as service conditions require while atthe same time maintaining a sealed joint between the staybolt and sleeve@A While there havebeen hereinbefore described approved embodiments of this invention, itwill be understood that many and various .changes and modifications in form,"arrangement of parts. and details of construction'thereof may befmade without departing fromthe spirit lof the invention,.and that all such changes and modifications as fall Within the scope ofthe appended claims are contemplated as a part ,of this invention.

The invention claimed and desired to be seY cured by Letters Patentis: l, A ilexible staybolt. construction comprisinga. staybolt havinga head at the outer end thereof with inner and outer sphericalfrfaces' and a tell-` tale hole `op'eningthrough said head; and means. cooperating with said head provdingarlexiblel connection forsecuring said s'tayboltto the outery sheetof a boiler including a; sleeve. adapted toI be secured at an orice in said}boil`er sheethaving a spherical seat engagingv said head inner sphericalface, a cap screwed on said sleeve having an oriL ce inuline with-said tell-'talehole and a dome disposed outwardly from saidI sleeve,.said head-at its said outer spherica1 f ace'being. housed in saiddome with a space therebetween, a. gasket having* a flange and an outwardly extendingconcavof, convex spherical portion, its concave face snugly fitting upon said head outer spherical face, and a clamp having a flange, said flanges being secured between said sleeve and cap, said clamp further having an outwardly extending compressible concavo-convex spherical spring portion provided with an orifice in line with said tell-tale hole with its concave face adjacent its said flange in presl taleA hole opening through said head; and meansv cavo-convex spherical portion, its concave face snugly fitting upon said head outer spherical face, and a clamp having a flange, said flanges being secured between said sleeve and cap, said clamp further having an outwardly extending compressible concavo-convex` spherical spring portion provided with an orice in line with said l tell-tale hole with its concave face adjacent its said flange in pressure engagement upon the concooperating with said head providing a flexible connection for securing said staybolt to the outer sheet of a boiler including a sleeve adapted to be secured at an orifice in said boiler sheet having a spherical seat engaging said head inner spherical face, a cap screwed on said sleeve hav- I `ing an orifice in line with said tell-talehole and a dome `disposed outwardly from said sleeve, said head at its said outer spherical face being housed in :said dome with a space therebetween, a gasket having a flange and an outwardly extending concavo-convex spherical portion, its concave face snugly fitting upon said head outer spherical face,

vided with an orifice in line withsaid tell-tale l hole with its concave face adjacent its said flange in pressure engagement upon the convex face l of said gasket portion, said clamp portion being provided vwith a circular row of spring fingers extending from said clamp orifice toward, said clamp flange with their free ends in pressed engagement with the innerface of said dome, said spring portion being energized by said cap when be secured at an orifice in said boiler sheet having a spherical seat engaging said head inner spherical face, a cap screwed on said sleeve having an -orilice in line with said tell-tale hole and a dome' disposed outwardly from said sleeve, said head at its said outer spherical face being housed vex face of said gasket portion, said clamp portion being provided with a circular row of spring fingers extendingfrom said clamp orifice toward said clamp flange with their free ends in pressed engagement with the inner face of said dome, y

said clamp portion from said finger-engaged ends on its outer face to said clamp flange, and on its inner face to said gasketportion, being spaced respectively from said dome and said head, said spring portion being energized by said cap when said cap is screwed home.

4. A flexible staybolt construction comprising a staybolt having a head at the outer end thereof `with inner and outer spherical faces and a telltale hole opening through saidhead; and means cooperating with said head providing a flexibley connection for securing said staybolt vto the outer sheet of a boiler including a sleeve adapted to be secured at an orifice in vsaid boiler sheet, a ring-shaped insert seated in said sleeve having a spherical seat at its top engaging said head inner spherical face for raising the upper portion of said head above said sleeve, a cap screwed on said sleeve having an orifice in line with said tell-tale hole and a dome disposed outwardly from said sleeve, said head at its said outer spherical face being housed in said dome with a space therebetween, a gasket having a flange and an outwardly extending concavo-convex spherical portion, its concave face snugly fitting upon said head outer spherical face, and a clamp having a` flange, said flanges being secured between said sleeve and cap, said clamp further having an outwardly extending compressible concavo-convex spherical spring portion provided with an orifice in line with said tell-tale hole with its concave face adjacent its said flange in pressure engageinvsaid dome with a space therebetween, a gasket having a flange and an outwardly extending conment upon the convex face of said gasket portion, said clamp portion being provided with a circular row of spring fingers extending from said clamp orifice toward said clamp flange with their free ends in Dressed engagement with the inner face of said dome, said clamp portion from said finger-engaged ends on its outer face to said clamp flange, and on its inner face to said gasket portion, being spaced respectively from said dome and said head, said spring portion being energized by said cap when said cap is screwed home.

J ULIUS KIN DERVATER. 

